Sheet-glass-handling device



' June 3, 1930. P,-CRWLEY 1,761,193

SHEET GLASS HANDLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 9. 1924 K$ZZ 151 E INVEMUR I J'ascph 1Q crdurle ATTDRNEY.

Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH 1. CROWLEY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'IO LIBBE-Y-OWENS GLASS COMPANY,

OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO i g I SHEET-GLASS-I-IANDLING DEVICE .Application filed October 9,. 1924. Serial No. 742,503.

The present invention relates to a sheet glass handling device, and has particular reference to means for removing a sheet of glass from a grinding and polishing machine.

After a sheet of glass has been on a machine for a sufiicient length of time to grind or polish the same, as the case may be, it is exceptionallywarm and in fact too warm for an ungloved man to handle. The present invention has therefore for an object to provide mechanical means for removing the sheet from the grinding and polishing machine tables. Of course the handling means herein disclosed is not restricted to the handling of sheet glass on or about a grinding or polishing machine, as it can readily be used for lifting sheet glass whenever desired.

An important object of the invention is to provide a handling device of this nature that can be associated with a sheet of glass on a grinding or polishing machine in such a manner that the sheet can readily be removed from the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a handling device for removing sheet glass from a grinding or pollshing machine comprising a bodyportion having arms carried thereby, the said body portion and arms carrying a plurality of flexible cups adapted to have a vacuum created therein so that the cups will cause the sheet to be lifted when the cups themselves are raised.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a grinding or polishing machine illustrating the invention in use,

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 3-3 of I Fig. 1.

In the drawings wherein for the purposes of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a sheet of glass, which, as is shown in Fig. 1, is being surfaced on a suitable machine 6. The form of machine here illustrated in no way has any bearing upon the present form of handling device, being merely illustrative of one manner in which the device can be used. Practically in all forms of grinding and polishing machines a form of disc or plate? is brought in contact with the sheet 5 to be surfaced. There are various forms of driving mechanism for the surfacing tool 7, but in all events the heat generated by the friction of the two causes the sheet 5-to become Warm. In the type of machine shown the sheet 5 is disposed in a suitable recess 8 to prevent accidental displacement of the sheet during the surfacing operations. Obviously, without some adequate form of lifting or handling means trouble will be experienced inremoving the hot sheet of glass 5 from the recess 8 when itis desired to turn the sheetover or to entirely remove the same from the machine.

' The present form ofvhandling device comprises a, body portion 9 having handles carried thereby preferably atthe opposite ends thereof as shown in the drawings. Arms 11 are connected to the body portion 9, and as is shown in Fig. 1 are adapted to extend toward the rear of the surfacing machine 6. A plurality of flexible cups 12 are carried by the body portion 9 and arms 11. In Fig. 2 the flexible cups 12 are shown as being carried by the pins 13, which have permanent enga'gement with the arms and the cups 12. The cups preferably have the flange 14 to give a firm surface contact with the sheet 5 when it is desired to remove the same from the sur facing machine.

When in use the body portion 9 is placed upon the sheet 5 and pushed downwardly toward the sheet to flex the cups 12 in a manner to expel the air from the interior thereof, and upon release of the pressure the cups will firmly grip the sheet due to the vacuum that has been formed on the interior of the said cups. Ordinarily, the sheet 5 will be somewhat moist due to the form of abradent used in such machines so that no difficulty will be experienced in forming a vacuum in the cups so the sheets can be removed. After the above operation the entire handling device and sheet can be removed by gri ping the handles 10, lifting up thereon, and t en draggin; the sheet out upon a supporting or carry ing member 15. The member 15 comprises a frame 16 having a plurality of preferably rubber covered rollers 17. The rollers 17 are designed to be disposed slightly above the frame 16 so that the sheet 5, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, will be rolled across the rollers 17 in a manner that it can be carried from place to place. To guard against scratching of the sheet during its removal from the machine suitable protective flaps 18 are provided, and during their use assume a position as indicated in dotted lines.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Claims: I

1. Apparatus for handling sheet glass in cluding a substantially U-sliaped frame cornprising a member substantially the length of the sheets to be handled, arms projecting at substantially right-angles from the member adjacent the opposite ends thereof only, and being disconnected at their outer ends, and a plurality of flexible suction cups carried by the member and arms.

2. Apparatus for removing glass sheets from a recess in a glass surfacing machine, comprising a substantially U-shaped frame including a member substantially the length of the sheet to be removed and adapted to extend parallel with and adjacent to the front edge thereof, arms projecting rearwardly from the member adjacent the opposite ends thereof only and being disconnected at their rear ends, and flexible suction cups carried'by the member and arms so that upon initial lifting of the apparatus, the front end only of the sheet will be removed from the recess, the sheet being then adapted to be dragged forwardly.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, this 1th day of October,

JOSEPH P. CROWLEY. 

